HOT on the heels of the latest immigration figures showing EU migration to the UK at a six-year low, a new exhibition in Edinburgh is tackling the subject head on.
Another Country: Contemporary Artists on Immigration, which opens today at the City Art Centre, will examine the controversial topic through the work of 11 artists – many of whom are migrants.
The diverse and often highly personal exhibition will engage with all sides of the migration debate, but it will focus on the New Scots – those who have come from elsewhere to make their home here. There are estimated to be 358,000 non-British nationals living in Scotland, or 7% of the population.
Donald Wilson, culture and communities convener for Edinburgh City Council, said: “This exhibition couldn’t be timelier and I’m sure many people will identify with the display. Edinburgh is home to 39,000 non-British EU nationals – more than any other city in the UK – and no two stories of immigration are the same.
“Since the end of the First World War, Edinburgh has played a defining role in welcoming and promoting cultural exchange in Europe. Ultimately, whatever happens beyond Brexit, we want our city to remain a welcoming place for artists and others and I think the City Art Centre’s hugely relevant exhibition will strike a chord with us all.”
Another Country aims to encourage discussion on the subject of migration, and it is hoped that it will lead to new perspectives on nationality, community, and belonging.
Alongside the exhibition, which is curated by Euan Gray, Elaine Rutherford, and Alberta Whittle, workshops are scheduled looking at diversity in the Scottish visual arts.
Gray said: “At this important time, when we prepare to alter our ties with Europe and redefine our borders following Brexit, it seems more relevant than ever to explore the theme of immigration.”
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